Here's an idea that wasn't taken lightly

The county commissioners listened intently as their legal advisers laid out the options on Tuesday afternoon. This, they understood, was tricky business.

The county's attorney and the administrator, who also happens to be a lawyer, warned the board that they could be opening themselves up to all sorts of legal trouble. The notorious Joe Redner lawsuit, where the Tampa king of nude dance clubs took the county for a six-figure joyride, was even cited.

In the end, the commissioners, not known for taking risks, joined hands and plunged ahead.

Yes, they proclaimed. Citrus Springs can hang twinkly lights on a tree at the subdivision's entrance.

Somewhere, no doubt, Lincoln, Jefferson and Washington beamed with pride.

As hard as it may be to believe, this tree-lighting question has been around since 1997. Back then, the community's civic association wanted to remove a few trees at the U.S. 41 entrance and plant one that they could decorate. Weighed down by the 17 legal conditions the county attorney attached, the group's request sank when it got to the board.

The citizens didn't give up on their idea, however. They set about changing both the physical and political landscape in Citrus Springs.

A single 6-foot pine tree was planted, with county approval, on a berm behind the welcome sign and fountain. More importantly, the community's advisory council joined with the civic association to make this year's holiday lighting pitch to the county.

But the results were the same. Several weeks ago, county staff once again said no.

The county had safety concerns, fearing that someone somehow could become distracted by the lights and crash into the tree. Because it is on county property, the county could be sued.

Never mind that each year, Inverness and Crystal River hang large lighted decorations along the two busiest roads in the county, State Road 44 and U.S. 19, without causing traffic mayhem. Or that the county allows decorated trees around the Historic Courthouse in Inverness.

Somehow, this single tree was seen as a potential killer. Citrus Springs residents scratched their heads in wonder.

"You would have to go 150 feet off the road, up a 10 foot berm and through some palm trees to hit the tree," said Richard Starr, president of the civic association. "You would need a tank."

The commissioners, however, weren't sold.

There are serious policy questions here, Vicki Phillips cautioned at Tuesday's meeting. The county has denied requests from other groups that wanted to use right of ways. A change would set a precedent.

The county's legal duo picked up the tune.

There are also free speech concerns, said County Administrator Richard Wesch. Lapsing momentarily into legalese, he said there are "possible horribles."

"What if the next request is not as generally socially acceptable as this?" he asked. "This goes far beyond Christmas lights," he declared solemnly.

County Attorney Robert Battista chimed in. "A lot of things can be seen as free speech," he said. "This could be difficult to defend in court."

Things were getting pretty tense, but Commissioner Josh Wooten deftly sliced through the complicated legal matters with this thoughtful conclusion. "That's why we have you guys," he told the lawyers.

Commissioner Jim Fowler raised the burning question: When will the decorations come down?

"In Hernando," Wooten observed, "we leave 'em up all year."

The joke went past the more-serious Phillips, who insisted that Citrus Springs' tree be stripped annually.

"Maybe by June?" Wooten suggested.

"We have standards in the rest of Citrus County," Fowler said, "that are higher than those of Hernando."

"C'mon now," Wooten replied, feigning offense, "you're up for re-election."

As the saying goes, no job is complete until the paperwork is done and the civic group was directed to see county staff about getting the proper right-of-way utilization permits. Wesch helpfully said the staff would expedite the process, with several commissioners pointing out that it would be nice to have the papers signed before Christmas.

On Wednesday, Starr was aglow. "I got my Christmas wish early," he said excitedly.

While one resident handled the county's paperwork, others planned the first official lighting of Citrus Springs' community Christmas tree for Friday at 5:45 p.m.

There was but one last hurdle to cross.

"We gotta go buy some lights," Starr said.

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